The Celtics would like the playoffs to start now, preferably before Matlock

Now that baseball has started and we got a taste of summer weather, it's not hyperbole to say that nobody cares about the NBA.

This will change of course next weekend when the playoffs start but for now, the games are painfully dull (for the most part) and it doesn't help that the Boston Celtics have seemingly been on cruise control for much of the regular season.

Facing a Toronto Raptors team without injured star Chris Bosh, the C's almost did the unthinkable by losing to a bad team that also lost Hedo Turkoglu to an injury early last night at the Air Canada Centre.

Boston (49-29) was down 54-52 at the half but recovered to pull out a 115-104 win in what turned into an important contest since the Hawks lost last night, meaning the Celts and Atlanta are tied for the 3rd spot with four games left.

It was the eighth straight time that Boston beat the Raptors (38-40). Rajon Rondo led the way with 21 points and seven assists while Paul Pierce scored 20, Kevin Garnett added 19 and Ray Allen had 18 in the balanced victory. Michael Finley, who has quietly been a nice addition, scored 14 points off the bench including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Sonny Weems led Toronto with a career-high 21 points. Andrea Bargnani, Antoine Wright and Jarrett Jack each scored 17 for what may be the NBA's most forgotten team.

The Celts host the hapless Washington Wizards tomorrow night.

Michael Finley and your grandpa had some crazy times back in the day

The Boston Celtics have become the definition of front-runners. They beat up on the scrubs in the NBA (most of whom reside in the Eastern Conference) and then they choke time and again against good teams and playoff contenders.

They rolled over the woeful Detroit Pistons last night 119-93 at the TD Garden and I think it's safe to say that Bill Laimbeer is rolling over in his grave.

This game was never close as Boston (42-24) was up 31-15 after the first quarter and 64-35 at halftime.

It was a nice reminder of why once March Madness comes around, any sane basketball fan forgets about the NBA for a few weeks.

Seven Celtics scored in double figures and two others had eight points. The newest Celtics Michael Finley had 15 points off the bench while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen also scored 15 in limited time. Kevin Garnett added 14 points and eight rebounds, Glen Davis had 13 points off the bench while Kendrick Perkins and Marquis Daniels notched 11. Rasheed Wallace and Glen Robinson both scored eight points.

Poor Richard Hamilton (14 points) and Tayshaun Prince. Detroit (23-44) is a complete mess and those two great veterans are stuck on a rebuilding team going nowhere fast. Prince left the game early after teammate Jason Maxiell (11 points, 10 rebounds) kneed him in the back.

Will Bynum had 16 points and 7 assists for the Pistons, Jonas Jerebko added 10 points while DaJuan Summers (12 points) and Ben Gordon (11 points) showed pulses off the bench.

The C's shot 62.2% as a team with nine more rebounds (36-27) and double the amount of assists as Detroit (34-17).

Tomorrow night will probably be another laugher as the Knicks come to the Garden for a St. Patrick's Day beatdown Southie style.